Side frame for trucks



May 16, 1933. F. B. ERNST SIDE FRAME FOR TRUCKS Filed Oct. 11, 1928 Patented ay 1, 1933 J UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRITZ IB. ERNST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN STEEII FOUNDRIES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SIDE FRAME FOR TRUCKS Application filed October 11 1928. Serial No. 311,802.

This invention relates to truck side frames.

As is well appreciated, while a cast steel side frame is simple in construction, the stress conditions set up therein are rather complicated. It is subject to a direct vertical loadcarrying the weight of the car and its lading, which load is received through the bolster springs. This direct loading is accentuated by the action of the bolster springs.

The side frame also receives a transverse load delivered in the nature of shocks or blows occasioned by the longitudinal shifting of the truck bolster which delivers the shocks or blows to the side frame through the columns of the bolster andof the'side frames. The side frame is also subjected to a twisting or torsional load when the car strikes or rounds a curve. This load is especially severe if the spring plank connecting the two side frames is riveted securely thereto.

In cast or integral side frames in which all the various members of the frame are joined rigidly, the various direct loads which produce direct stresses also produce secondary or induced stresses. At some points on the casting, the secondary stresses are greater or more serious than the primary stresses. Some of the portions of the casting are subject to two primary stresses and in addition several secondary stresses. In adding various stresses algebraically, it is found that at several points in the frame all the stresses which localize at these points happen to be plus or tension stresses with no corresponding minus or compression stresses to lower the average.

One object of the invention is to provide a truck side frame in which the stresses are more evenly distributed and balanced in the general type of side frame herein disclosed and whereby such side frame is materially strengthened at critical points without appreciably increasing the weight of thethe various requirements under severe service conditions.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the truck side frame disclosed by the accompanying sheet of drawing, in

Which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a truck side frame embodying my invention Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the same side frame;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken in the I plane of line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 4 4 of" Figure 1.

The various novelfeatures of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawing and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to'the figures of the drawing,

it will be noted that the side frame disclosed the tension member between the columns 13 is box shaped in section as shown in Figure 3, and that portion of the tension member 14 intermediate the columns and the journal boxes is channel shaped in section, as shown in Figure 4, with the web 15 being at the upper side.

The side frame is integrally formed, that is, the tension and compression members and columns 13 are cast in a single piece. In this particular instance, the journal boxes 11 are also cast integrally with the side frame. '1

The various stresses and strains set up in an integrally formed side frame are considered in detail in the Floyd Patent No. 1,364,491, dated January 4, 1921, and it will therefore be unnecessary to describe in detail just what the stresses and strains are. It will be suflicient to state that the bending and tension stresses ordinarily would be greatest and excessive at the under side of the tension member portion 12 between the columns 13 and at the upper side of the tension member portions 14 directly outwardly from the columns, and also at the under side of the tension member directly inwardly from the journal boxes -11. In this particular instance, the stresses developed at either side of the columns are of particular interest.

In order to distribute the tension stresses in the tension member in a manner to reduce the bending stresses at the points mentioned, the web 15 of the tension member continues from a point 16 downwardly and inwardly as at 17 and passes diagonally through the associated column 13. It emerges from the inner side thereof and continues to extend downwardly and inwardly to form an angular portion 18 in the lower corners formed by the columns 13 and the tension member portion 12. Said web 17 tapers into the upper surface of thespring seat portion 19 of the tension member between the columns 13.

The triangular portion 18 referred to includes not only the web 17 but also vertical flanges 20 which connect the web 17 with the spring seat portion l9 and with the inner walls of the columns 13.

In this way the various parts of the ten- SlOIl member and columns are tied together in a manner to properly distribute the tension stresses in the tension member and to reduce the bending stresses at the points mentioned.

By this arrangement the objects of the invention are accomplished.

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns all cast in a single piece whereby and wherein bending stresses ordinarily would be greatest and excessive at points on either side of each of the columns, said tension member being channel shaped in section and having its web at the upper side, said web extending through the associated column and continuing into the spring seat portion of the tension member between said columns to distribute the tension stresses in the tension member in a manner to reduce the bending stresses at the points mentioned.

2. A truck side frame including tension and compressionmembers and columns all cast in a single piece whereby and wherein bending stresses ordinarily would be great est and excessive at points on either side of each of the columns, said tension member being channel shaped in section and having its web at the upper side, said web extending diagonally through the associated column and continuing into the spring seat portion of the tension member between said columns to distribute the tension stresses in the tension member in a manner to reduce the bending stresses at the points mentioned.

3. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and'columns all cast in a single piece whereby and wherein bending stresses ordinarily would be greatest and excessive at points on either side of each of the columns, said tension member being channel shaped in section and having its web at the upper side, said web extending diagonally through the associated column and tapering downwardly into the spring seat portion of the tension member between said columns to distribute the tension stresses in the tension member in a manner to reduce the bending stresses at the points mentioned.

4. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacing intermediate portions of said members, one of said members having inclined portions of substantial quadrilateral shape comprising a web and spaced flanges, said web intersecting said columns and merging into a portion of one of said members .between said columns, and spring seats disposed on one side of said web.

5. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacing intermediate portions of said members, one of said members having inclined portions of substantial quadrilateral shape comprising a web and a flange portion, one of said last named portions intersecting said columns and merging into the portions of said members between said columns, and spring seats disposed on one side of said web.

6. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacing intermediate portions of said members, one of said members having inclined portions of substantial box shape, a portion of said'member intersecting said columns and merging into the portion of one of said members between saidcolumns, and spring seats disposed on one side of said web.

7 A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacing intermediate portions of said members, journal boxes formed integral with said tension and compression members, one of said members having inclined portions of substantial channel shape comprising a web portion anda flange portion, one of said last named portions being in substan' tial alignment with a corner of said journal box and intersecting said columns above the bases thereof and merging into a portion of one of said members between said columns.

8. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacing intermediate portions of said members, one of said members having inclined portions of substantial quadrilateral shape comprising a web and spaced flanges, said web intersecting said columns above the bases thereof and continuing in a substantially unbroken contour to merge into a portion of one of said members between the columns.

9. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacing intermediate portions of said members, one of said members having inclined portions of substantial quadrilateral shape comprising a web and a flange portion, one of said last named portions intersecting said columns above the bases thereof and continuing in a substantially unbroken contour to merge into a portion of one ofsaid members between the columns.

10. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacmg intermediate portions of said members, said tension member having inclined portions of substantial box shape, a portion of said tension member intersecting said columns above the bases thereof and continuing in a substantially unbroken contour to merge into a portion of one of said members between the columns.

11. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacing intermediate portions of said members, said tension member having inclined portions of substantial box shape, a portion of said tension member intersecting said columns above the bases thereof and continuing in a substantially unbroken contour to merge into a portion of'the tension member between the columns.

12. In a side frame, the combination of tension and compression members merging adjacent the ends thereof and provided with ournal boxes at said merged ends,-spaced integral column guides connecting said tension and compression members, one of said members having a web merging into said journal box adjacent the inner corner thereof, said web intersecting one of said column guides above the bases thereof and merging into vone of said members intermedlate said column guides.

v 13. A truck side frame including tension and compression members and columns spacing intermediate portions of said mem bers, one of said members having inclined portions of substantial. quadrilateral shape comprising a web and spaced flanges, said Web intersecting said. coiutuus above the bases thereof and continuing? diagonally to merge into a portion of one of said members between said columns;

14. In a side frame, the combination of tension and compression members merging adjacent the ends thereof and provided with journal boxes at said merged ends, spaced integral column guides connecting said tension and compression members, one of said members having a web merging into said journal box adjacent the inner corner thereof, said web intersecting one of said column guides above the bases thereof and merging into one of said members intermediate said column guides, and gusset members merging into said journal box adjacent a corner thereof.

15. In a side frame, the combination of tension and compression members merging adjacent the ends thereof and provided with journal boxes at said merged ends, spaced integral column guides connecting said tension and compression members, one of said members having a web merging into said journal box adjacent the inner corner thereof, said web intersecting one of said column guides above the bases thereof and merging 'into one of said members intermediate said column guides, and gusset members merging into said .journal box adjacent said corner thereof.

Y 16. In a side frame, the combination of tension and compression members merging adjacent theends thereof and provided with journal boxes at said merged ends, spaced integral column guides connecting said tension and compression members, one of said members having a web merging into said journal box adjacent the inner corner thereof, said web intersecting one of said column guides above the bases thereof and merging into one of said members intermediate said *column guides, and gusset members merg- Y said web.

17. In a side frame, the combination. of tension and compression members merging adjacent the ends thereof and provided with journal boxes at said merged ends, spaced integral column guides connecting said ten sion and compression members, one of said members having a web merging into said journal box adjacent the inner corner thereof, said web intersecting tone of said column guides above the bases thereof and merging into one of said members intermediate said column guides, and gusset members merging into said journal box adjacent said corner thereof and being substantially aligned with said web.

18. A side frame comprising a' member formed with a tension and a compression member having columns therebetween, said tension member including a spring seat member forming a holster opening with said columns and compression member, said tension and compression members merging into a portion provided With a journal box, said tension member having a web merging into a corner of said journal box and intersecting one of said columns above the base of said column and extending to and merging into said spring seat member.

19. A side frame comprising a member formed With a tension and a compression member having columns therebetween, said tension member including a spring scat member forming a bolster opening With said columns and compression member, said tension and compression members merging into a portion provided with ajournal boX, one of said first named members having a Web merging into a corner of said journal box and intersecting one of said columns above the base of said column and extending to and merging into said spring seat member.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 4th day of October, 1928.

FRITZ B. ERNST. 

